Why do you think that racists feel free to act out in the South and not so much in the North?

I KNOW people up here know what the issues are, and racists hide their feelings out of fear of retaliation and being shunned by friends or the community. In places where that fear doesn't exist, how are we supposed to interpret that? The Southerners have more balls? Or, the Southerners are more ignorant? Ooorrrr, racism is a deep rooted tradition in the South and as a result, will always be more blatant than in other areas. To me, that WOULD mean that the South had the corner on racism.

I'm a Northerner, I've always thought of the flag as a southern pride thing that racist groups also display and I have to admit when I see the confederate flag my first thought is that person is probably a racist.

Why do you think that racists feel free to act out in the South and not so much in the North?

I KNOW people up here know what the issues are, and racists hide their feelings out of fear of retaliation and being shunned by friends or the community. In places where that fear doesn't exist, how are we supposed to interpret that? The Southerners have more balls? Or, the Southerners are more ignorant? Ooorrrr, racism is a deep rooted tradition in the South and as a result, will always be more blatant than in other areas. To me, that WOULD mean that the South had the corner on racism.

Originally Posted by slinky1

To be honest, I have never felt that the racists feel more free to act out in the South. Nearly my entire life has been spent in Southern states and the first overtly racist experience that I have had was in New Mexico fairly recently. My husband (from New Mexico) told me that he felt racism was more visible when he lived in Chicago. I believe that people want to believe that the South is more racists because it makes them feel better about themselves and where they live so they can say they aren't like those darn racist ignorant Southerners.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -- Theodor Seuss Geisel

I believe that people want to believe that the South is more racists because it makes them feel better about themselves and where they live so they can say they aren't like those darn racist ignorant Southerners.

Originally Posted by DarkAngel

Exactly. Since Southernhers speak slower and with a drawl, they are clearly all complete idiots. Why not blame all the rest of the country problems on them too?

*Poster formerly known as Bailey422*

Here's all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid. ~ George Carlin

I think this thread has moved from the Confederate flag to whether or not southerners are racists and/or stupid.

I never want to live in the south again. There is a racial tension in the air at all times that makes you feel on edge. I didn't enjoy living there at all. It does have a lot to offer, but for me the pros did not outweigh the cons. I do have southern friends, but I would never choose to live in the south again.

And surprisingly enough I didn't see too many flags, though the ones I did see had a lot of southern pride slogans(though some were obviously displayed in a racist manner). I saw more cars on monster truck tires with a coating of dirt for a paint job

There are racists and racism everywhere. I would not like to be a black person in rural New England. It's weird enough being Jewish there. Nor would I want to be black in certain neighborhoods of certain liberal and progressive cities in the Northeast. The South does not have a monopoly on racists, poverty, ignorance or anything else.

I do think the fact that blacks were legally and generally treated as second class citizens as recently as 40-50 years ago does leave some sort if mark on the culture.

To Trenell, MizKerri and geeky:
I pray none of you ever has to live in a communist state.

Geeky is my hero. She's the true badass. The badass who doesn't even need to be a badass. There aren't enough O's in cool to describe her.

There are racists and racism everywhere. I would not like to be a black person in rural New England. It's weird enough being Jewish there.

Originally Posted by geeky

Good point right here. Any area that is not accoustumed to dealing with those that are different are going to be difficult to adjust / accept those different. Right? No but unfortuate reality. Rural New England is a prime example of a culture that hasn't advanced or changed much in some cases for centuries. Nevermind decades. Still the same father/brothers working in the papermill, lumber yards, and fishing boats with the same kids they grew up with and married to the first girl they put gum in their hair.

Why are people who drive pick-up trucks considered to be racist? That's the feeling I'm getting from some posts.

Originally Posted by curlylaura

Because they're being stereotyped

Originally Posted by iris427

I think it's because pickup trucks are associated a) with people from rural areas/farms and b) people who do manual labour and perhaps do not have a higher education, and those people are often assumed to be racist. Many people have experienced more overt racism in rural areas. Also, there DO seem to be a lot more confederate flags on trucks than on cars, for whatever reason. And the majority of the time I've heard racist slurs yelled in the street, they came from a truck. (I am not saying I agree with the stereotype, but I hear people say they have had similar experiences and that's where it stems from.)

Get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. -Muhammad Ali

There are racists and racism everywhere. I would not like to be a black person in rural New England. It's weird enough being Jewish there.

Originally Posted by geeky

Good point right here. Any area that is not accoustumed to dealing with those that are different are going to be difficult to adjust / accept those different. Right? No but unfortuate reality. Rural New England is a prime example of a culture that hasn't advanced or changed much in some cases for centuries. Nevermind decades. Still the same father/brothers working in the papermill, lumber yards, and fishing boats with the same kids they grew up with and married to the first girl they put gum in their hair.

Originally Posted by GuardianB

Yep, a lot of people don't seem to realize that rural areas in the South are different from urban areas, just like in any other region. Some areas are more diverse or progressive than others.

There are racists and racism everywhere. I would not like to be a black person in rural New England. It's weird enough being Jewish there.

Originally Posted by geeky

Good point right here. Any area that is not accoustumed to dealing with those that are different are going to be difficult to adjust / accept those different. Right? No but unfortuate reality. Rural New England is a prime example of a culture that hasn't advanced or changed much in some cases for centuries. Nevermind decades. Still the same father/brothers working in the papermill, lumber yards, and fishing boats with the same kids they grew up with and married to the first girl they put gum in their hair.

Originally Posted by GuardianB

Yep, a lot of people don't seem to realize that rural areas in the South are different from urban areas, just like in any other region. Some areas are more diverse or progressive than others.

Originally Posted by iris427

Well and since there is really only 1 or 2 "cities" in New England the rural is much more expansive up here. The prejudice that I've most often seen is not one of slurs and vulgar threats. It is of loftiness that makes life difficult for the minority person. It is random and situational. I had a Napali friend go to RENEW her drivers license. She was not a citizen at the time but did have her valid green card. She has worked for a US Embassy and currently held a job in the US Gov't. The agent working the desk would barely look at her when speaking and maintaned that she needed to fill out 1-2 additional forms other than the 2 the state had sent her in order to RENEW. They also said she needed to bring in her marriage certificate. WTF? My white wife went with her and the same agent still wouldn't talk to our friend but addressed my wife and let's just say when the words discrimation cam up the agent's tone changed and the forms needed and instructions suddenly lessened and she walked out with a RENEWED license. Not first, a renewed. Blind, decrepid, senile old men cant get their license taken away but this...

Sorry, uh flags. No big deal to me. I don't read into the symbol until I see what the intent and representation is for that individual. I've seen many shown in pride and many shown in ignorance (sometimes both) and many shown in hate.

Oh and about the phrase "Go Home". From this NH resident to Mass drivers; GO HOME! And stop raising the costs of our taxes by buying everything up here. It's not our fault you can't afford your own land and property. :P

Everyone I've ever known who lived in Boston (black or white) has said, it's the most racist place they've ever lived.

I don't agree there is more racism in the South. It's just more overt. Frankly, I prefer that. At least, I know who and what I'm getting.

Originally Posted by Discgirl

Pittsburgh has some serious issues as well.

When I first moved here, I went out on a date with a really cute guy. Had a good job, lots of checks in the "pros" column. Then he opened his mouth. He made 5 racial slurs in under 30 minutes. I told him to pull the car over and let me out. Date over.

We get slammed because our store brings in a "less than desirable" clientelle. Ironically, we have had very few problems in the 9 years we have been in business. The few times we have can be chalked up to averages. We have painted over 75k orders in 9 years - that is a lot of customers. Some of those customers are going to be ass holes.

Better everyone think your a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them right.

Why are people who drive pick-up trucks considered to be racist? That's the feeling I'm getting from some posts.

Originally Posted by curlylaura

Because they're being stereotyped

Originally Posted by iris427

I think it's because pickup trucks are associated a) with people from rural areas/farms and b) people who do manual labour and perhaps do not have a higher education, and those people are often assumed to be racist. Many people have experienced more overt racism in rural areas. Also, there DO seem to be a lot more confederate flags on trucks than on cars, for whatever reason. And the majority of the time I've heard racist slurs yelled in the street, they came from a truck. (I am not saying I agree with the stereotype, but I hear people say they have had similar experiences and that's where it stems from.)

I don't drive a truck, but my dad does. He uses it to haul lots of things around, as he's kind of a jack-of-all-trades handyman/outdoorsman/mechanic type guy. He also goes hunting. And watches NASCAR. And he lives in New York, so the four-wheel drive comes in handy when the snow flies.

Also, back up off the trailer park residents, dangit. I grew up in one of those. It was what my single mother could afford, it was well-kept, and it was a roof over my head. The term "trailer trash" and all the stereotypes that go with it are really offensive and hurtful. I am not an uneducated, ignorant racist. I am not filthy, I have all my teeth, and there were no broken down vehicles on cinderblocks sitting in our yard.

As for the original topic, I can understand why some Southerners may keep using the Confederate flag as a way of expressing their heritage, but the fact is that it's just so offensive to so many people, it really shouldn't be used.